Anthony Johnson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Roy Anthony Johnson better known simply as Anthony Johnson, is a Jamaica
n reggae singer who was a member of the group Mystic I and is known for the 1980s hit song "Gunshot".
in 1957. His mother Cynthia Hamilton was a market woman by trade, and his father was a Barbadian who worked as a waiter at the Sombero Club in Kingston. Anthony's parents had three children together before separating. They also had other children separately, so Johnson has several siblings.
Johnson was raised by his mother in a tenement yard in the heart of Trench Town. Biah's yard at 15½ James Street is significant in Johnson's development as an artist and musician
. This yard, owned by an Indian who had moved to Kingston from Cuba, doubled as a popular dancehall on weekends and holidays. Some of the big sound systems of the era, including King Tubby
's, played at dances in Biah's yard. Many of the top Jamaican singers of the time were also from Trench Town, and Johnson took inspiration from the likes of John Holt
, Dennis Brown
, and Alton Ellis
, regularly visiting the latter's yard in nearby White Street. When political violence escalated in Kingston, Johnson moved away for a time to Montego Bay
, where he stayed with Ellis's younger brother Irving, and while there sang with Irving's steel band, which performed at local hotels. When Johnson moved back south, he lived in Portmore
, where he befriended the actor/comedian Carl Bradshaw, and played in Bradshaw's backing band.
In the mid-1970s, Johnson began auditioning at Kingston's studios, along with his friend Horace Grassett (better known as Badoo). His first recording was "Free Black Man" for producer Bunny Lee
, although this was not released; Lee did, however, suggest that Johnson drop 'Roy' from his name, and he has performed as Anthony Johnson since. He went on to record for the Hoo Kim brothers
at Channel One Studios
, and was sufficiently successful that he was able to buy a guitar. Johnson spent a lot of time at the Rasta camp on Selassie Drive, where he met Les Clarke and Balvin Fials, with whom he formed the vocal trio Mystic I. They recorded several tracks with Linval Thompson
, which he released without their knowledge as the album Mysterious in the UK in 1979. Tracks from those sessions were also released in 2009 by Johnson on the Perilous Time Showcase album. The group then recorded three tracks for Lee "Scratch" Perry at his Black Ark
studio, with "Forward With Jah Orthodox" released by Perry as a single on his Black Art label. On going solo, he recorded for several of the top Jamaican producers, most at Channel One Studios
, including Linval Thompson ("Africa", "Life is Not Easy"), Henry "Junjo" Lawes ("Let Go This One", "Now I Know"), and Harry J ("Follow Them Footsteps"), but had his greatest success working with Jah Thomas
who produced his first big hit in 1982 with "Gunshot", which pleaded for a cessation of the so-called "shotta" mentality, and which has remained a perennial favourite with sound systems. The single was followed by an album of the same name. Johnson continued to record throughout the 1980s, working with Prince Jammy on the hit single "A Yah We Deh", and with Dillinger
on the single "Too Much".
Johnson is well known in Jamaica and on the European reggae circuit. Since the late 1980s he has lived in the UK, where he worked with producers such as Jah Warrior
, Rootsman, and Mike Brooks
, and still performs all over Europe.
With Mystic I:
With Mystic I:
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n reggae singer who was a member of the group Mystic I and is known for the 1980s hit song "Gunshot".
Biography
Johnson was born in Kingston, JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1957. His mother Cynthia Hamilton was a market woman by trade, and his father was a Barbadian who worked as a waiter at the Sombero Club in Kingston. Anthony's parents had three children together before separating. They also had other children separately, so Johnson has several siblings.
Johnson was raised by his mother in a tenement yard in the heart of Trench Town. Biah's yard at 15½ James Street is significant in Johnson's development as an artist and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. This yard, owned by an Indian who had moved to Kingston from Cuba, doubled as a popular dancehall on weekends and holidays. Some of the big sound systems of the era, including King Tubby
King Tubby
King Tubby was a Jamaican electronics and sound engineer, known primarily for his influence on the development of dub in the 1960s and 1970s...
's, played at dances in Biah's yard. Many of the top Jamaican singers of the time were also from Trench Town, and Johnson took inspiration from the likes of John Holt
John Holt (singer)
John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
, Dennis Brown
Dennis Brown
Dennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
, and Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.-Biography:Ellis was born in 1938 and...
, regularly visiting the latter's yard in nearby White Street. When political violence escalated in Kingston, Johnson moved away for a time to Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
, where he stayed with Ellis's younger brother Irving, and while there sang with Irving's steel band, which performed at local hotels. When Johnson moved back south, he lived in Portmore
Portmore
Portmore is a coastal city in southern Jamaica in Saint Catherine, and a dormitory town for the neighbouring cities of Kingston and Spanish Town.-Geography:...
, where he befriended the actor/comedian Carl Bradshaw, and played in Bradshaw's backing band.
In the mid-1970s, Johnson began auditioning at Kingston's studios, along with his friend Horace Grassett (better known as Badoo). His first recording was "Free Black Man" for producer Bunny Lee
Bunny Lee
Edward O'Sullivan Lee, better known as Bunny "Striker" Lee is a prominent, prolific and successful record producer best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s.-Biography:...
, although this was not released; Lee did, however, suggest that Johnson drop 'Roy' from his name, and he has performed as Anthony Johnson since. He went on to record for the Hoo Kim brothers
Joseph Hoo Kim
-Career:Shortly after the Jamaican government banned gaming machines in the early 1970s, Joe Joe Hookim and his brother Ernest, abandoned their jobs as machine operators, and jumped into the music business. By 1973, the Hookims had opened their own studio, Channel One, with Joe Joe as its hands-on...
at Channel One Studios
Channel One Studios
Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music....
, and was sufficiently successful that he was able to buy a guitar. Johnson spent a lot of time at the Rasta camp on Selassie Drive, where he met Les Clarke and Balvin Fials, with whom he formed the vocal trio Mystic I. They recorded several tracks with Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson
Linval Thompson is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and record producer.-Biography:Thompson was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, but spent time with his mother in Queens, New York, and his recording career began around the age of 20 with the self-released "No Other Woman," recorded in Brooklyn, New...
, which he released without their knowledge as the album Mysterious in the UK in 1979. Tracks from those sessions were also released in 2009 by Johnson on the Perilous Time Showcase album. The group then recorded three tracks for Lee "Scratch" Perry at his Black Ark
Black Ark
The Black Ark was the recording studio of reggae and dub producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, built in 1973 and located behind his family's home in the Washington Gardens neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica...
studio, with "Forward With Jah Orthodox" released by Perry as a single on his Black Art label. On going solo, he recorded for several of the top Jamaican producers, most at Channel One Studios
Channel One Studios
Channel One is a recording studio in Maxfield Avenue, West Kingston, Jamaica. The studio was built by the Hoo Kim brothers in 1972, and has had a profound influence on the development of reggae music....
, including Linval Thompson ("Africa", "Life is Not Easy"), Henry "Junjo" Lawes ("Let Go This One", "Now I Know"), and Harry J ("Follow Them Footsteps"), but had his greatest success working with Jah Thomas
Jah Thomas
Nkrumah "Jah" Thomas is a reggae deejay and record producer who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own Midnight Rock and Nura labels.-Biography:...
who produced his first big hit in 1982 with "Gunshot", which pleaded for a cessation of the so-called "shotta" mentality, and which has remained a perennial favourite with sound systems. The single was followed by an album of the same name. Johnson continued to record throughout the 1980s, working with Prince Jammy on the hit single "A Yah We Deh", and with Dillinger
Dillinger (musician)
Dillinger is a reggae artist.-Biography:As a young man growing up in Kingston, Dillinger would hang around Dennis Alcapone's El Paso sound system...
on the single "Too Much".
Johnson is well known in Jamaica and on the European reggae circuit. Since the late 1980s he has lived in the UK, where he worked with producers such as Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior
Jah Warrior is a United Kingdom roots reggae/dub production team, record label, sound system, and musical group centred around Steve Mosco.- Overview :...
, Rootsman, and Mike Brooks
Mike Brooks (singer)
Mike Brooks aka Mikey Brooks, Prince Michael is a reggae singer whose career stretches back to the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, and still performs all over Europe.
Albums
- Gunshot (1982), Midnight Rock
- Reggae Feelings (1983), Vista Sounds - expanded version issued 1999, Culture PressCulture PressCulture Press is an independent record label from UK specialized in Jamaican music. Many of their releases are of questionable legality and are often titled incorrectly.-LP Discography:*VSLP5000 - Bob Marley - Interviews...
- I'm Ready (Showcase Style) (1983), Rusty International
- Reggae Feeling (1984), Live & Learn
- We Want More Lovin, Progressive
- A Yah We Deh (1985), Jammy'sKing JammyLloyd James , better known as Prince Jammy or King Jammy, is a dub mixer and record producer. He began his musical career as a dub master at King Tubby's recording studio...
- Rasta Brothers (1985), Dancefloor - with Don CarlosDon Carlos (musician)Don Carlos a.k.a. Don McCarlos is a Jamaican reggae singer and composer.-Biography:He was born and raised in Western Kingston, Jamaica in a very deprived district known as Waterhouse out of which came many talented reggae musicians. One such artist was King Tubby, one of the founders of Black...
and Little JohnLittle John (musician)John McMorris , better known as Little John, is a Jamaican dancehall musician best known for his 1980s recordings.-History:Born 1970 in Kingston, Jamaica, Litle John was so called as he began performing and recording at the age of nine... - Robert French Meets Anthony Johnson (198?), Midnight Rock - with Robert FfrenchRobert Ffrench-Biography:Robert Ffrench grew up in central Kingston and attended Kingston College. He recorded his first singles in 1979, at the age of 17. He achieved success in 1984 with his performances at the Festival Song Contest and the Reggae Sunsplash festival. He had a combination hit with deejay...
- Togetherness (1996), House of Reggae - reissued (2001), Prestige
- Reggae Chronicles (2006), Hallmark
- Gun Shot: Extended Version (2007), Roots
- I'm The One, Teams
- Dancehall Victory (2010), Rupa Rupa records
With Mystic I:
- Mysterious (1979), Burning Sounds
- Perilous Time Showcase (2009), Anthony Johnson Music
Singles
- "She Afi Come a Me" (1977), Grimm Ben
- "Africa" (1979), Strong Like Sampson
- "Africa We Want to Go" (1979), GG's
- "Hey Baby" (1980), Laser
- "Ice Cream" (1980), Laser
- "Life is Not Easy" (1980), Strong Like Sampson
- "Let Go This One" (1981), GreensleevesGreensleeves RecordsGreensleeves Records & Publishing is a record label specialising in dancehall and reggae music. The company was founded by Chris Cracknell and Chris Sedgwick and started as a small record store in West Ealing, London, in November 1975 and is based in Britain....
- "Just Call Me Girl" (1981), Freedom Sounds - with Lee Van Cliff
- "Africans Must Be Free" (1982), HeartbeatHeartbeat RecordsHeartbeat Records is an independent record label based in Burlington , Massachusetts. The label specializes in Jamaican music. Founded by reggae music enthusiasts Bill Nowlin and Duncan Brown, the label's first release was a vinyl LP reissue of Linton Kwesi Johnson's Dread Beat an' Blood...
- "Dancehall Style" (1982), Corner Stone
- "Don't Let Me Down Girl" (1982), Heartbeat
- "Gunshot" (1982), Midnight Rock
- "Sound Clash" (1982), Midnight Rock
- "Too Much" (1982), Oak Sound
- "Baby Loving" (1983), Rusty International
- "Dreadlocks Fight" (1983), Rusty International
- "Now I Know" (1983), Greensleeves
- "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (1984), Rusty International
- "Nah Lick Shot" (1984), Black Scorpio
- "Nice & Easy" (1984), Black Scorpio
- "Stop My Loving" (1984), Rusty International
- "Spend the Night With You" (1988), Heights
- "Gunshot 90's Remix" (1991), One Love
- "Aware of Love", Harry J
- "Come in the Lawn", Connection
- "Dance With Me", Midnight Rock
- "Every Time I Hear Music", Midnight Rock
- "Feel Like Dancing/Dance & Romance", Midnight Rock - with Jah ThomasJah ThomasNkrumah "Jah" Thomas is a reggae deejay and record producer who first came to prominence in the 1970s, later setting up his own Midnight Rock and Nura labels.-Biography:...
- "Follow Them Footsteps", Harry J
- "I Feel Good", Youth in Progress
- "I'm The One", Teams
- "Know The Truth", Black Zodiac
- "Lost Love", Black Symbolic
- "Loving a Woman", Midnight Rock
- "Move In Move Out", Explosion
- "My Girl", Duke of Earl
- "Nice Up the Dance", Jammy's
- "Say You Love Me", Connection
- "She's My Queen", Reggae Sting
- "Strictly Rub a Dub", Midnight Rock
- "Take Me to the Show", Midnight Rock
- "You I Love", Midnight Rock
- "Swinging Medley", Silver Kamel
- "True True Love", Jamaica Vices
- "Tribulation" (2009), Heartical
- "Concentration" (2007), Rupa Rupa Records
With Mystic I:
- "Forward With Jah Orthodox" (1978), Black Art
- "Feeling Happy" (1978), 56 Hope Road - miscredited as 'Mystic M'
- "Shining Light" (1978), Black Rose - miscredited as 'Mystic Eyes'
External links
- Anthony Johnson at Roots Archives